According to the National Institute of Mental Health, 40 million adults suffer from some kind of mental health disorder each year. The average person worries about an hour each day but a person with an anxiety disorder worries about 5 hours a day. Experts have various suggestions for coping and some are more effective than others. Yet the Bible offers some wise advice to those in a relationship with God through Christ. Philippians 4:6 says, “Don’t worry about anything. Instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.” In 1 Corinthians 11, Paul also instructs God’s people on how to participate at the Lord’s Table. If by doing so we discern the significance of the body and blood of Christ (His sacrifice for us), we help arm ourselves for dealing with anxiety. When we grasp the significance of our Lord’s sacrifice on our behalf, we increase our capacity to cope with external issues. His sacrifice provides for us peace with God, peace within, peace with others, and the power to cope with external circumstances that cause us to worry.
Dr. Melvin E. Banks, Sr.
Dr. Melvin E. Banks, Sr. is the founder and chairman of UMI (Urban Ministries, Inc.). Under his direction, UMI has grown to be a leading publisher of Christian education resources for churches in the African American community. Read More
